Stock Up, Stock Down: Two teams rising, two falling post-trade deadline

Stock Down: Los Angeles Angels fading fast after deadline moves

All the talk leading up to the trade deadline centered around what the Los Angeles Angels were going to do with Shohei Ohtani. Were they going to trade their All-Star or hold onto him with his free agency pending over the winter and risk losing him? They chose the latter and it’s a move that is backfiring big time.

The Angels took him off the market and held onto him and they also became buyers. They acquired pitcher Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox and got C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk from the Colorado Rockies. They went from in the Wild Card mix to fading to seven games out and under .500.

They proceeded to lose the first seven games following the deadline and hit rock bottom after being swept by the Seattle Mariners last weekend. They took a 3-1 lead into the top of the ninth against the Mariners only to give up four runs, including a two-run home run to Cade Marlowe in a 5-3 loss.

Mike Trout is expected back soon, but it’s a case of too little, too late after suffering an injury against the San Diego Padres in early July. Generally, the Angels fade before the trade deadline, but this season it’s happening after the deadline and after they went all-in for Ohtani. It’s going to be a very nervous time this offseason as they await their superstar’s decision as to where he’ll be playing in 2024.